My transient life is a short journey and impermanent.
Be Compassionate. Be Grateful. Be Humble. Be Loving.
Enjoy my moment and smile when it is time to say goodbye.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Training for Sprint Triathlon

Recently, I am spending more time exercising and training for Sprint Triathlon (eventually, Olympic Distance Triathlon).
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I like to plan ahead and set goals/targets.
Well, being a lazy person by nature, i lack the self-discipline to push myself if I don't have target.
For example: Completing an Olympic Distance Triathlon is one of the resolutions for this year. Initially, I just wanted to complete it - regardless of timing. Then, I started to time myself (which is good) to push myself harder etc... When my timing did not improve, and even deteriorate (even at my low level of fitness), I get upset with myself.
I became very goal-oriented (which is good to a certain extent), and becoming obsessed with timing, so much so that I forgot to enjoy the journey.
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What do i like about Triathlon?
- The satisfaction of conquering my fear and weakness
- Improving my fitness and Challenging my limit
- The fun of competing
- The Joy of cycling in the morning in the midst of nature and breathing fresh air
- The Joy of jogging in the evening and enjoying the sunset
- The sense of freedom from swimming (feel like a fish... sometimes)
- Socialising with friends after training
- FEELING OF BEING ALIVE!!!.
While it is good to set targets/goals, this is an instance where I felt that the journey is more important. If the joy of savouring the journey is compromised, what’s the use of reaching the goal (ie. Good timing)?.
This applies to a lot of things in life. I learn to re-evaluate my life. Why am I doing certain things? What are the things that really matters? Are the destination/goal/target really matters? Why I did set those goals/targets?

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The Journey is definitely more important than the destination.

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While I am going to do my best for the race, I would soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the whole experience.

=)

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On another note:

Ralph's day out - in a triathlon
LIKE any 10-year-old, Ralph Payne enjoys the outdoors, but he cannot walk and has the mind of a six-month-old child. This is, however, not stopping him from taking part in the Tri Bob Singapore Sprint Series at Changi Beach tomorrow. His father Anthony Payne will first swim 750m alone, then ride a modified bicycle with Ralph for 20km, and finally run 5km pushing a buggy with Ralph on board. The Payne family hopes to use this opportunity to raise awareness of children with special needs and raise funds for the Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA) School. Online donations can be made at http://www.donation.org.sg/Cheque or cash donations can be made to AWWA's Early Years Centre at 11, Lorong Napiri, Singapore 547532.

SINGAPORE: Many take part in marathons and triathlons for personal satisfaction or just to keep healthy.

But one man will be taking part in his first triathlon for a completely different reason.

Anthony Payne is helping to raise funds for the Asian Women's Welfare Association School - a school for disabled children.

Anthony is taking part in the triathlon together with his 10-year-old son. Ralph Payne is just like any other kid - restless, playful and full of energy. But that is where the similarities end.

He has severe learning difficulties and is also unable to walk without help. His condition is so rare that no doctor has been able to diagnose his disorder.

But that is not going to prevent his father from helping him take part in - of all races - a triathlon!

Anthony said: "Somebody sent me a video of Team Hoyt from YouTube... It was absolutely inspiring. A man had so much love for his son and would go to such lengths to get his son to be able to compete in events such as the Ironman, which is an incredible event to do."

In the triathlon on April 19, after completing the swimming segment, Anthony will be running while pushing Ralph along. And for the cycling leg of the race, he has modified a bicycle he had bought from Denmark.

When the Payne family decided to move to Singapore 15 months ago, one of their main concerns was whether they could find a proper school for Ralph. When they were in the UK, Ralph attended school full time five days a week. Fortunately, they managed to find a school - the Asian Women's Welfare Association School.

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The father and son team are taking part in the triathlon not just to raise money for the school. Their aim is to change perceptions in Singapore about disabled children.

Anthony said: "What I've been told is there's an element of shame in having a disabled kid or maybe the families feel they are protecting the child from people staring or so on. They feel the child is safer being looked after at home.

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"I happen to disagree with that. Ralph loves being out and about. He loves nothing more than going to Vivocity with us in his push chair or going out on the bike with me and taking part in family days out."

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Anthony has been training only for the last two months and it is a physically demanding challenge not many would be keen to take on.

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But for Anthony, he said: "When I'm out with the push chair and the bike, he (Ralph) looks back at me and gives me an absolutely beaming smile and that's all I need."

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A simple enough reason to overcome even the most impossible odds.

To support their cause, you can go to the website at www.donation.org.sg.